Gabrielle Giffords to resign and focus on her recovery

Gabrielle Giffords to resign and focus on her recovery

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will step down from Congress this week to focus on her recovery, her staff announced Sunday, according to Mark Kimble a spokesperson for Giffords.

"I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week," Giffords said in a video message on her Facebook page.

"Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery, so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down from Congress this week, " according to Giffords.

Giffords, a third-generation Arizonan who served five years in the state Legislature before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2006, will not seek re-election this fall.

Giffords vowed to return public service.

"I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country," she said.

Before Giffords leaves office, she plans to finish her Congress On Your Corner event that was interrupted by a gunman on Jan. 8, 2011. In a private gathering in Tucson, Giffords will meet with some of the people who were at that event.

As one of her last acts as a member of Congress, Giffords will attend the State of the Union speech Tuesday at the Capitol.

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